Structural Determination, Oxygen Diffusion, and Storage Capacity of a High-Entropy Fluorite-Type Oxidation Catalyst

Year: 2026 DOI: 10.1002/sstr.202500591

Extra Information

Yuvraj Vaishnav, Mohamad Abou-Daher, Cristina I. Q. Silva, Rohit K. Rai, Walid Al Maksoud, Marcell Toth, M. Viswanathan, Peng Ren, Fumitaka Takeiri, Shusaku Hayama, Samy Ould-Chikh, Mohamed Nejib Hedhili, Maxim Avdeev, Wen Yin, Saburo Hosokawa, Genki Kobayashi, Isaac Abrahams, Aamir Farooq, Javier Ruiz-Martinez, Yoji Kobayashi. Small Structures, in press.
☞ Congratulations Yuvraj on a second paper! Looking at high-entropy structure in more detail, with X-rays, neutrons, diffraction, PDF, and spectroscopy, together with properties. Thanks also to M. Abou-Daher and Cristina in the Farooq/Ruiz-Martinez groups for the catalysis collaboration, and many others in Japan/UK/China/Australia!

Abstract

High entropy oxides are attracting attention for catalysis, but there are relatively few detailed studies on their precise structure, hampering true detailed studies on fundamental properties affecting their activities. In addition, diffusion has been often characterized as generally slow in high-entropy systems. Here, we determine the precise oxygen content and structure of the fluorite-like high-entropy oxide (La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Y)O1.68, and have identified a large oxygen storage capacity based on efficient Ce/Pr redox due to facile oxide diffusion pathways and suppression of sintering. The structure and composition were identified through a combined Rietveld refinement of X-ray and neutron diffraction data, and the oxidation state of Ce and Pr were investigated by HERFD-XANES. (La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Y)O1.68 utilizes the full redox range of Ce/Pr, resulting in a high oxygen storage cumulative capacity despite the lower content of Ce/Pr compared to other well-known ceria derivatives. Diffusion pathway analysis by bond valence site energy mapping shows decreased barriers for oxide anion diffusion through the bulk, also benefiting redox reactions. The high-entropy nature also suppresses sintering, resulting in better cycling performance. This results in a higher performance as a methane oxidation catalyst support. We also investigate its use as a NOx reduction catalyst support.